Most nights, I decide what to cook for dinner based on how long it's going to take me from start to finish. Sometimes I don't mind a leisurely hour in the kitchen. Most of the time, I'm super hungry, tired, or crunched for time, so quicker is better. I like my dinners easy, fast, and healthy without being boring.

Problem is, if I don't have meal-prepped ingredients on hand in my fridge or freezer to throw together, this is significantly more of a challenge. To avoid ending up with a dinner of cupboard grazing or a bowl of cereal, I have a short list of dinner ideas that take me less than 15 minutes to make. Bonus points for having a good amount of protein to keep me full, too.

These eight recipes all fit the bill: Each has a dietitian-recommended 15 grams of protein or more and takes less than 15 minutes to pull together. And the timer begins the second you get started—preheating the oven tacks on time, so there's no roasting involved in any of these recipes. (This makes them extra summer-friendly too, because you won't raise the temp in your kitchen.)

Fifteen-minute meals are faster and usually healthier than takeout, so master your favorites here and whip them out next time a 30-minute meal just isn't an option.

Yes, really. Mac and cheese may not be the first dish that comes to mind when you think high protein, but don't underestimate the power of cheese (in this case, it's vegan, but you can swap in the real deal, too). Get the recipe here.